The document lists eight “high-priority hazards” under a framework of causes that disrupt learning, including natural disasters, fires, chemical spills and attacks on personnel, with five areas of response, such as prevention, mitigation and recovery.

The task force report discusses disruptions caused by an intruder, stating: “while a hostile intruder incident has never occurred in the Belchertown Public Schools, they, like any school, are vulnerable to intruders.”

For disruptions emanating from a “civil disturbance” the document says “Belchertown, like most towns with a population of approximately 15,000 is vulnerable to civil disturbances.” And it says, regarding “terrorism” that the town’s schools “like other public institutions, is vulnerable to terrorist activity.”

The proposal, which must receive school committee endorsement to take effect, includes a section, called “Limitations” that says “no guarantee is implied by this plan of a perfect incident management system. As personnel and resources may be overwhelmed, the Belchertown Public Schools can only endeavor to make every reasonable effort to manage the situation, with the resources and information available at the time.”

A key component is transferring skills to staff and students to ensure their safety during an emergency.

One means to that end, according to the plan, is the mandatory adoption of the Department of Homeland Security National Incident Management System.

The protocol the school committee will review says staff and students “who assume roles describe in this plan will receive” the NIMS training.

The school district “recognizes that staff and students will be first responders during an incident. Adopting NIMS enables staff and students to respond more effectively . . . “

The task force included many teachers, the administration, including Superintendent Judith Houle, several town officials including the town administrator and the police and fire chiefs, along with parents including Ian P. Cyr. He is Deputy Chief/Operations, UMass police department.